BobTheGardener

Latest posts by BobTheGardener

Possibly a new cultivar, or a typo (common in retail plant names)? I would contact Cambo to see if they have any further information. There are a lot of Galanthophile web sites out there too which may be worth contacting, for example:

There are a couple of viruses which can cause misshapen fruit but mouldy fruit is generally caused by grey mould whichs infects at the flower stage. Are the mouldy fruits lower down and those at the top less affected? If so, that is likely grey mould. How long have the rows of canes been there? If well over 5 years, it would be a good idea to replace them which is the only way to eliminate a possible virus infection.

In essence, yes you can but you'll need a large pot - 60cm or larger diameter and about the same depth. If you can find one on a dwarfing rootstock all the better, but growing them in pots will naturally keep them smaller than if planted in the ground. Once it reaches the maximum size you want after a few years, you'd have to keep it in check by regular summer pruning.

Just checked mine - 14/04/2012, a period of time when many of us here transferred from the old BBC gardening site. So, about 3 years and I've made about 3000 posts. Hmm.. averaging about 3 posts per day - doesn't seem to me that I write that many!

Still, I don't 'do' facebook/twitter or any other (anti?)social media, so all of my dirty washing is kept in this particular laundry basket!

Digging them up and planting something else is also a valid solution for some gardens where blackspot is a real problem. Certain situations just don't suit roses and you can spend the rest of your life fighting nature but only ending up with that awful sight of a garden full of disgusting looking rose foliage every year. Try some 'resistant' varieties and if those also secumb, my advice would be to give up. There are lots of lovely flowering and scented shrubs which don't need anything other than a bit of simple pruning at the right time.

My favourite for cooking has always been Marmande which always gives me that 'South of France' taste I prefer, although I like Costoluto and Brandywine for this use too. I don't make thick 'ketchup' consistency sauces though, so varieties with fewer seeds like Roma may be better for that.

Undoubtedly, 'tough love' is the best way to grow toms - better flavour, less disease.